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Is now the TYNE to take the TOON to the TOP.

First up i started this save with no intention of writing about but now we are at the end of season one i feel the need too.

Newcastle United Football Club

2011/2012

Premier League

Following as busy summer at St James' Park with the removal of Alan Pardew to be re-placed by an unknown Kris Scott the Toon Army at, not for the first time, up in arms at Chairman Mike Ashley and the fellow board members

The new manager came in and made it clear from day one that no more players will be coming in during July and August and many predicted that again the club may suffer without investment.

A new strike duo of Ba and Cisse are untried at Premier League level with Ba having just a 4 month stay with recently relegated West Ham. Before Pardew was ousted he had splashed £5m+ on Davide Santon, £4.3m on Yohan Cabaye and was tricked by Sir Alex Ferguson into coughing up for Gabriel Obertan.

Pre- Season

You cant read much into pre season but plenty of goals and unbeaten mean we can be confident going into the new season.

From our good start i have been waiting for the bubble to burst but so far so good. An amazing run of results has seen just one draw and one defeat in our last 15 games. Demba ba has settled really well and scoring goals for fun while our backbone of Krul, Santon, Simpson, Taylor and Colocini are keeping us tight at the back.

January has seen two new players join the club. Both midfielders one has joined on loan while the other has signed a 3 1/2 year deal.

We certainly have the hardest of the final game but hopefully a low scoring defeat at worst and Spurs not winning by many would get us a Champions League place on GD. Best case would be beat United, who have already conceded the title to Manchester City, and finish in 3rd.

Sadly we could only finish with the silver medal but it could have been much different. The group stage was easy enough but after just 17 minutes against Japan in the Qtr Final we found ourselves 2-0 down. As for the final we fought back from 2-0 down to level and quickly concede again. Scott Sinclair had a chance from the penalty spot to draw us level at 3-3 but like the best of English players he skied it high and wide.

A nice little start against two decent sides. The Chelsea win was never in doubt. Two up quickly, Lampard then missed pen. Chelsea scored in the 90+3 min and we scored straight from kick off to get the third. The Liverpool match saw them strike in the last five minutes get a point after we had led twice.

Bet the frustrating draw against Birmingham got on your nerves. Any way good start

Yes and no to be honest. Birmingham 17 shots to our 12 and only two of ours on target. But we did hit the woodwork 3 times. Throughout the game it was one of those days where we could have played all night and not scored. Birmingham had 5 clear cut chances so overall happy with the point.

Two decent reults in the month overshadowed by the first league defeat. Totally dominanted by Arsenal from start to finish. Over than that though the season has been good so far. Free scoring, decent position.

League Cup:

After an FA Cup Qtr final defeat to West brom last season was happy enough to gain a bit of revenge. Only one 'big' club left in the last 8, Arsenal, and sadly we have drew them away in the next round.

Well after the beating served up by Milan we came back nicely against bottom club Standard. I certainly feel that Milan will top the group and we will need to win away at Porto for a chance of 2nd. Thrid is looking most likely if im honest.

As with last month just one defeat away to a big club. This time was leaders Manchester United. Went into the game without goalkeeper Tim Krul and top scorer Park Chu-Young due to internationals. 14 goals in the four games is a great return and both Cisse and Ba are clicking into top gear after slow starts.

A change in the backroom staff this month as my assistant John Carver has moved to Norwich as manager. My new assistant until July is a 65 year old Italian who has spent time at both AC Milan (22 years) and Chelsea (2 years), Bruno Demichelis

I think you would call that perfect. A month where we could relax as the last CL game had nothing riding on it and the Lge Cup Qtr Final was at the end of the month. It was not all easy though as 90th winners were needed away to Villa and Swansea.

League Cup:

A massive thankyou has to go to Arsene Wenger for resting his big guns and playing reserve players. Noce easy win puts us into a semi final with Wigan whilw the other semi final sees Fulham play Aston Villa.

Another perfect month in the league for us coupled with Manchester United drawing twice leaves us nicely placed for a title challenge. Our run in is good two, of the 11 games left only 2 are agaisnt teams in the top 7, Man Utd at home and Spurs away.

Double champions Barca have come and been beaten well at St James' Park but that away goal could be vital as we go to Spain for the return leg. Restricted the best side in the world to just one shot on target so confidence is a little high about our chances of getting through.

We have now won 22 of our last 25 games, with defeats in PL to Man City and Chelsea away while losing the dead rubber to Wigan in the League Cup Semi Final Second Leg.

March brings the League Cup Final and Champions League 2nd Leg as our main games while the FAC and three PL games.

After a good season we are tried to keep the squad intact hence rejecting a £21m bid for Yohan Cabeye from AC Milan.

The summer has been difficult for the most part thanks to Mike Ashley deciding to sell the club.

With the new man in place the only tihng that had changed is the boards confidence in me, and not for the best!!

Newcastle Signings:

Daniel Agger - the Liverpool defender comes in for a decent price of £2.4m. Out of favour was on long at German side Wolfsburg last season

Adam Johnson - Another decent signing that doesn't break the bank, £3.6m, Adam joins to help down both wings and performed well on loan at Chelsea.

Andy Carroll - With my two main forwards i have two younger guys under them so i wanted one more to help out. Not my first, second or even ninth choice Andy has re-joined the club on a season long loan.

Players Out:

Dan Gosling has joined Southampton for £1.5m

Shola Ameobi has left for Swansea for £725k

Gabby Obertan and Mike Williamson have joined Birmingham for a combined fee of £4.9m

Sylvain Marveaux has joined Wolves on loan for £625k

James Tavernier has joined Milwall on loan for £55k

Rob Elliott has joined Brighton for a fee of £85k on loan

Andy King joins Gosling at Southampton on loan for £625k

Two reserve players have joined Gateshead and Walsall on loan

Three U-18 players have been released.

Pre Season has been mostly decent

Goals galore in three of the games with newbie Johnson scoring a couple.

Luck to you Kris. I just can't ever make myself manage Newcastle, just for the sheer heartache of it. I get too angry when things don't work out. Is nice to see someone else doing well though. And I really like the format. KUTGW!

Real hit or miss run of results. One minute we are untouchable and winning by three or four, the next being given a good hiding. Leaking too many goals is the main problem. Maybe not spending enough in the summer has affected.

League Cup:

Our grip on the cup has gone following the most eventful of games. Ahead three times during the first 90 minutes we allowed Liverpool back in. It was our turn to fight back in ET before missing 3 of our 5 pens dumped us out.

Another good run of Champions League football is making up somewhat for our poor league performance. The next round brings OM back to St James' Park after knocking them out in the qualifiers last season.

FA Cup:

Simple win over a non league side puts us easily through. Reading are up next as our quest for silverware continues.

January Transfers:

Sadly two of our better players have not performed this season so far, Coloccini and Santon so i have splashed some of our Champions League cash on two young English players.

Phil Jones: Signed from Manchester United for £13.25m i expect him to become a main stay in our first eleven

Jack Robinson: Highly rated left back has joined from Liverpool for £8m. Hoping he can pressure Santon into some better performances.

Anderson: Another player in from United for a fee of £5m. Expect him to challenge Sigurosson for a first team place and hopefully can get some crucial goals for us.

No players have left the club so we are a little heavy on players and if a European place cannot be clinched for next year there will be an end of season clearout.

Following last seasons poor finish compared to the previous two years it has been a busy summer. Players i have signed that have not performed have been moved on while a couple of big names are in the door.

Newcastle Players Out:

Yohan Cabaye - From around March time he made his feelings known that he wanted to move to a bigger club. They don't come much bigger than Inter Milan so an offer of £19.25m was deemed good enough and i wish him well

Craig Dawson - After just 11 apps in two years was decided to cut our losses and sold to Everton for £2.1m, a loss of £1.3m for us

Adam Johnson - A year after joining he leaves for Leciester for £4.3m, a profit of £700k after just one goal in 12 games

Daniel Agger - Big things expected a year ago following a £2.4m move but injuries restricted him to just six starts so a bid of £2.3m from Wolves was seemed suitable.

Anderson - Only joined in January but as i look to to trim the squad it was a choice from him or Ben Arfa. Once Arsenal bid £10m, double our outlay, the decision was made to sell him

Andy King - My first signing for £2m has never really held down a first team slot and Southampton made his loan move permanent for £1.9m

That is the main deals, 4 players were released from reserves and another 5 have left on loan.

Transfers In

Ashley Young - Listed by Man Utd the 29 year old comes in for £2.5m. Never a regular at Old Trafford but 8 goals in 28 Prem games in not a bad return

Sami Khedira - Signed from Real Madrid as a direct replacement to Cabaye, costing just £5.5m

Samuel Eto'o - Despite being 33 i could not resisit paying just under £9m for the striker. With 48 goals in 58 games for Anji he is still a worldie player and will help out free scoring Ba and Cisse while i hope he can tutor a younger guy coming through.

I have admitted to poor signings given the amount of new players who have left already but the squad i have now is doing me proud. Top if the table, just, a second string ran Man Utd close in Lge Cup and cruising in the Euro Cup for now.

Eto'o has had a good start with 7 goals in 10 starts while Ashley Young has performed admirally.

Khedira has been different class, almost ever present and holding the team together from the base of the diamond.

Santon and Coloccini both had woeful seasons by there standards last year but have turned that around so far, Coloccini having the second highest ave rating of any of my players.

As good as it gets really, winning every game. The FA Cup semi final and Euro Cup Qtr Final have drawn us against Tottenham. With a league game too we will face Spurs 4 times between April 3rd and 18th.